Quinn''s gaze was drawn upward, locking onto the bear''s eyes. They were meant to be lifeless, fixed ck beads, yet they shifted suddenly, jolting her awake with a surge of fear.


    As her eyes fluttered open, she was met with a wash of brightness. Turning her head to peer out the window, she found that dawn had already broken, yet the space beside her in the bed was conspicuously empty.


    Rising into a sitting position, a sharp twinge of pain shot through her calves. She lifted the nket to inspect them, finding the swelling to be as severe as before, albeit slightly less painful. Tentatively, she pinched the swollen area, a gasp escaping her lips as the pain red anew.


    Abruptly, the bedroom door swung open, revealing Alexander with a tray in his hands. He crossed the room to sit beside her, drawing her attention. Dressed in a ck shirt and a silver vest, his waist appeared even more slender than usual. In his formal attire, he exuded an air of stoicism that had fooled many. From the tray, Alexander picked up a bowl and scooped some polenta, bringing it to her lips.


    "Open your mouth," he instructed.


    Obediently, Quinn opened her mouth, but her gaze remained fixed on his face. He fed her a Sebastianful of polenta, then another, until she had finished the entire bowl. Her hunger was ravenous, as if she hadn''t eaten in days, and she swallowed each mouthful without hesitation.


    Alexander cast a sidelong nce at her, asking, "Why are you staring at me?"Content ? N?velDrama.Org.


    She pursed her lips, averting her gaze to the now-empty bowl of polenta. His sigh echoed in the silence as he continued to feed her. Before long, the bowl was empty.


    "Do you want more?" he asked.


    Quinn nodded in response.Alexander studied her for a moment before augh escaped him, the sound grating against the quiet of the room. By the time Quinn looked up, he had already risen and left the room.


    He returned a few minutester with another bowl of polenta. Quinn consumed the second serving, finally satiating her hunger. She shook her head when he offered more, indicating that she was full.'' Alexander returned the bowl to the tray and stood, instructing, "Rest well, don''t get out of bed casually. Can you remember that?"


    With a solemn nod, Quinn affirmed her understanding.Alexander cast onest nce at her before departing with the tray, never to return. Left alone, Quinn remained obediently in bed. However, the call of nature soon made itself known, difort creeping in as her dder filled.


    As she deliberated whether to leave the bed for the bathroom, the doorbell rang from downstairs. The memory of Soren from the previous day came to mind. It must be him, she thought.


    Abandoning the idea of the bathroom, she braved the pain and descended the stairs to the door. With a firm grip on the handle, she pulled it open. The sight that greeted her left Quinn frozen in ce. It wasn''t Soren who hade calling, but Getty.


    Getty stood in the doorway, bundled up as usual, her gaze sweeping over Quinn from behind her sunsses.


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    The faint sound of barking from within the house finally drew Getty''s attention away from Quinn. Without waiting for an invitation, she stepped inside.


    Quinn made to block her, but Getty brushed past her with ease. Quinn stumbled, barely managing to catch herself on the door frame.


    Once inside, Getty surveyed the surroundings. White cloths still covered some of the furniture, making the situation clear at a nce. She turned back to Quinn, a smug smile ying on her lips.


    "I knew it. Alexander was doing fine with me during this time. Why did he suddenlye backst night? It turns out that it was you who was causing trouble."


    Approaching Quinn, Getty lifted her chin defiantly, removing her sunsses to stare down at her with an air of arrogance.


    She regarded Quinn as if she were the wife and Quinn the mistress.


    "You said that you were divorced. Is that true?" Getty asked.Taken aback, Quinn could only blink in surprise, a flicker of astonishment shing in her eyes.